Centrifuge for separating solids/liquids mixtures

Abstract

A centrifuge is disclosed designed either as a solid bowl centrifuge or separator for separating solids/liquids mixtures. A centrifuge drum having an outer jacket is provided with apertures positioned in the jacket. Through the apertures at least a partial discharge of concentrated solids phase occurs thereto. A control device preferably in the form of a disk provides a surface spaced at a small interval from the apertures so as to prevent the flow of solids/liquids through the aperture except when a discontinuity such as a recess or cut-out in the surface occurs so as to allow flow through the aperture.

Claimed as the invention: 
     
       1. A centrifuge for separating solids/liquids mixtures, comprising: a centrifuge drum having a drum housing as an outer jacket and a rotating body substantially within the drum having separating means associated therewith; aperture means in the jacket for at least partially discharging at least one concentrated solids phase therethrough; at least one control device means connected to the rotating body for periodically opening and closing said aperture means as the rotating body rotates relative to the drum; drive means for rotating the rotating body relative to the drum; and the control device means comprising means for movement past the aperture means in the rotating direction of the rotating body at a given interval in a closing position to effectively block the aperture means for a significant small period of time to prevent discharge at the aperture means, the interval being sufficiently small to prevent any substantial flow through the aperture means. 
     
     
       2. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the control device means is rotatably arranged in relationship to the drum and is connected to the drum via the drive means. 
     
     
       3. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the control device means is operated with a differential speed with respect to the drum. 
     
     
       4. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the drive means includes means for variably setting the differential speed. 
     
     
       5. A centrifuge according to claim 4 wherein said means for variable setting can adjust the differential speed from zero up to a speed of the drum. 
     
     
       6. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the control device means is in effective interaction with the aperture means. 
     
     
       7. A centrifuge according to claim 6 wherein the control device means is designed such that a relative motion is produced with respect to the drum jacket which alternately covers or uncovers the aperture means. 
     
     
       8. A centrifuge according to claim 6 wherein the control device means has a width portion at least partially covering the aperture means. 
     
     
       9. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the control device means is arranged within the drum. 
     
     
       10. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the control device means is arranged outside of the drum. 
     
     
       11. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the control device means has a disk-shaped design. 
     
     
       12. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the control device means comprises a rotary valve. 
     
     
       13. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the control device means is equipped with stripper means for keeping the aperture means clean. 
     
     
       14. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the aperture means is arranged in a nozzle body which can be screwed into the drum jacket from the outside. 
     
     
       15. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the aperture means comprises a nozzle having a width means for varying a cross-section of a flow-through path. 
     
     
       16. A centrifuge according to claim 15 wherein the means for varying comprises an elastic wear-resistant insert in the nozzle. 
     
     
       17. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the drum housing is cylindrically designed. 
     
     
       18. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein several control devices and nozzle-like apertures are arranged in distributed fashion on the drum housing. 
     
     
       19. A centrifuge according to claim 18 wherein the control device means controls the nozzle-like apertures independently of one another. 
     
     
       20. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein in addition to the control device means a built-in means is also provided for increasing separation effect. 
     
     
       21. A centrifuge for separating solids/liquids mixtures, comprising: a centrifuge drum having a drum housing as an outer jacket; aperture means in the jacket and for at least partially discharging at least one concentrated solids phase therethrough; at least one control device means for opening and closing said aperture means; drive means for moving the control device means relative to the aperture means; the control device means having a disk-shaped design; and the control device means having at least one recess. 
     
     
       22. A centrifuge for separating solids/liquids mixtures, comprising: a centrifuge drum having a drum housing as an outer jacket; aperture means in the jacket and for at least partially discharging at least one concentrated solids phase therethrough; at least one control device means for opening and closing said aperture means; drive means for moving the control device means relative to the aperture means; the control device means having a disk-shaped design; and the control device means having a cam-like projection at a region of the device means interacting with the aperture means. 
     
     
       23. A centrifuge for separating solids/liquids mixtures, comprising: a centrifuge drum having a drum housing as an outer jacket; aperture means in the jacket and for at least partially discharging at least one concentrated solids phase therethrough; at least one control device means for opening and closing said aperture means; drive means for moving the control device means relative to the aperture means; the control device means having a disk-shaped design; and the control device means having a retarding disk which preferably covers the aperture means with an edge portion. 
     
     
       24. A centrifuge according to claim 23 wherein the retarding disk is arranged on a worm body of a discharge worm within the drum and a spiral of the worm passes through a recess of the retarding disk. 
     
     
       25. A centrifuge for separating solids/liquids mixtures, comprising: a centrifuge drum having a drum housing as an outer jacket; aperture means in the jacket and for at least partially discharging at least one concentrated solids phase therethrough; at least one control device means for opening and closing said aperture means; drive means for moving the control device means relative to the aperture means; a worm body with a spiral thereon being positioned within the outer jacket; the aperture means being below a fluid level within the jacket; and the control device means being mounted on the worm. 
     
     
       26. A centrifuge for separating solids/liquids mixtures, comprising: a centrifuge drum having a drum housing as an outer jacket; aperture means in the jacket and for at least partially discharging at least one concentrated solids phase therethrough; at least one control device means for opening and closing said aperture means; drive means for moving the control device means relative to the aperture means; the centrifuge comprising a separator; said jacket of the centrifuge drum comprising a housing of the separator having a rotatable body therein with separator disks; and the control device means being mounted on said rotatable body. 
     
     
       27. A centrifuge for separating solids/liquids mixtures, comprising: a centrifuge drum having a drum housing as an outer jacket; aperture means in the jacket and for at least partially discharging at least one concentrated solids phase therethrough; at least one control device means for opening and closing said aperture means; drive means for moving the control device means relative to the aperture means; in addition to the control device means a built-in means being also provided for increasing separation effect; and said built-in means comprising a dish packet having spacers between individual dishes of the dish packet which exhibit deflection elements projecting beyond ends of the dishes. 
     
     
       28. A centrifuge according to claim 27 wherein ends of the deflection elements are rotated around their center of gravity axes in a rotational direction by an angle alpha (α) between 0° and 90°. 
     
     
       29. A centrifuge according to claim 28 wherein the deflection elements are bent down with respect to said spacers by an angle beta (β) between 0° and 90° in a direction of a stream thereat. 
     
     
       30. A centrifuge for separating solids/liquids mixtures, comprising: a centrifuge drum having an outer jacket; a worm body within the outer jacket; means for driving the worm body and outer jacket at different speeds; aperture means for at least partially discharging concentrated solids phase therethrough; at least one control device means mounted on the worm body for opening and closing said aperture means, said control device means comprising means for movement past said aperture means at a given interval to effectively block the aperture means, said interval being sufficiently small to prevent any substantial flow of solids or liquids from the centrifuge drum. 
     
     
       31. A centrifuge separator for separating solids/liquids mixtures, comprising: an outer housing having aperture means at a periphery thereof; a rotating body within the housing having separator plates thereon; means for driving the body and outer housing at different speeds relative to one another; at least one control device means for opening and closing said aperture means; and said control device means comprising a discontinuous surface passing at a given interval from the aperture means, said interval being of a width sufficiently small to effectively prevent flow of liquids and solids from the separator. 
     
     
       32. A solid bowl worm centrifuge, comprising: means for continuous separation of solids/liquids mixtures as well as mixtures of liquids of varying density or phases that vary in heaviness; said means for continuous separation including a drum jacket and a conveyor worm therein both having a cylindrical shape; means for rotating the conveyor worm relative to the drum jacket; in the drum jacket at a discharge area thereof aperture means for discharge of the solids/liquids mixtures or the heavier phase for mixtures of liquids of varying phase or density; a radial disc arranged on the worm having a peripheral surface extending at a close interval to the aperture means such that the aperture means is effectively closed for discharge of desired material from the aperture; and a recess at the peripheral surface which effectively allows material discharge through the aperture means when the recess is adjacent thereto. 
     
     
       33. A solid bowl worm centrifuge according to claim 32 wherein the aperture means are changeable in size. 
     
     
       34. A solid bowl worm centrifuge according to claim 32 wherein the aperture means are in an active interaction with a mechanically operated control device means for alternately covering or releasing the aperture means in the drum jacket during relative movement of the conveyor worm with respect to the drum jacket. 
     
     
       35. A solid bowl worm centrifuge according to claim 32 wherein the control device means comprise a disk-like ring arranged on the conveyor worm and extending perpendicularly to a rotating axis of the worm. 
     
     
       36. A solid bowl worm centrifuge according to claim 32 wherein the aperture means comprises nozzles. 
     
     
       37. A centrifuge, comprising: means for separating solids/liquids mixtures as well as mixtures of liquids of differing densities and mixtures of phases which vary in heaviness; said means for separating including a rotating jacket and rotating body therein which rotates relative to the jacket; aperture means in the rotating jacket for discharging the heavier phase or density at a discharge region of the centrifuge; and a blocking surface means protruding from the rotating body which opens and closes the aperture means and which, when aligned with the aperture means, is at a given spacing therefrom, the spacing being chosen sufficiently small and a surface area of the blocking surface means being chosen sufficiently large such that the aperture means is effectively closed a significant angle of rotation of the rotating body so as to prevent discharge of the heavier phase or density. 
     
     
       38. A centrifuge according to claim 37 wherein the jacket is of a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
       39. A centrifuge, comprising: means for separating solids/liquids mixtures as well as mixtures of liquids of differing densities and mixtures of phases which vary in heaviness; said means for separating including a rotating jacket and projection means for increasing separation effect; aperture means in the rotating jacket for discharging the heavier phase or density at a discharge region of the centrifuge; said projection comprising a disk package and wherein individual disks project beyond ends of the disks; and the end projecting beyond the edge of the disk being rotated around an axis lying in the plane of rotation of the centrifuge so as to pass near said aperture means and co-act with the same to limit material flow therethrough.